Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-19
-Correspondence Of The MINER
The Labor Observation-Disclosures.

WALKERvILLE. Mont. Feb. 16, 1886.
The Knights OF Labor, who were known
as such, have been DISCHARGED and black
listed. and they have declared that thew
would not employ anyone knownt to belong
to a labor organization. This lockout is
not against US, but against the right Of
labor to organize for its protection!"
The above is taken from a circular issued
by the X. OF l.. OF St. Louis, resenting the
action OF two firms, tobacco manufactur-
ers, in discharging those persons who be-
lieve themselves entitled, as American citi-
zens. to strengthen the bonds of sympathy
existing between them, by organizing them
selves into a protective society for mutual
assistance and protection. This was an
offense great enough, in. their employers
eyes, to merit dismissal from the com.
pany's service and outlawry, so far
as they and similar manufacturers
were concerned. Never again will those
poor wretches be allowed to exchange their
labor for bread in those factories, or any
other within the range of their influence.
as they thought best for the pro-
motionof their own interests. They
were SO. bold as to exercise the
rights secured to them by the constitution
OF their country. They accepted the
"Declal alton OF Independence" for their
guide. They believed the principles set
forth in it to be just and right. Those
principles which attest to the wisdom, the
patriotism Of Washington and Jefferson,
Adams and Franklin, and q host of other
illustrious Americans, by whose earnest
Efforts they were caused to triumph among
men, which have been the cause of the land
we love from being a dependent and op-
pressed colony, to take it's place amongst I
the foremost nations of the earth, for the
establishment of which their forefathers
poured out their blood like rain on the
fields OF Saratoga and Yorktown, endured
the pangs OF hunger and cold in the miser-
bile uts OF Valley Forge. in defence Of
which millions Of free men have gladly |
given up their lives, resolved 'that
government OF the people, by the
people and Tor the people should not perish
from the EARTH" they have accepted for
their guiding star and breath it's benign in
iuence. They hoped to be unmolested in
their difficult efforts to advance their
moral. social and financial status.
Yet those who should be the first to assist
them, the first to direct them the proper
path to pursue. to extend TO them the ben
eht OF their experience, are the first to Cd.
pose, to mislead and condemn any at.
Tempt to gain these ends. So it is, day
after day. the wires are burdened with the
old story. Strikes, boycotts and lock-
puts; war on a small scale. Suffering
'reater than is even dreamed of is under.
'one by the poor, while endeavoring vainlv
20 equalize the relations between capital
Ind labor. Unaided, they are almost help.
ess, opposed to the holders of capital.
hey weary themselves by Ruthless efforts.
dust it be always so? Will justice never
70 done? T.;
This is no eight and transient cause"
t is the same that brought about the
OF Babylon, of Rome and of
!shens, and as surely will it accomplish I
he ruin OF this great nation unless it ac- 1
ept the only peaceful solution. g
ARBITRATION. ]
In that lies the nations hopes. In that